A week in interior Alaska with kids
Most families try to see too much in Alaska. The distances look small on a map of a huge state and turn out to be long days in a car. This plan sees the best of the interior in a week, with only three moves and no drive over about two and a half hours.
It runs north from Anchorage, the most common place to fly into, and ends in Fairbanks, which also has an airport. Run it in reverse if flights work better that way.
Nights 1 and 2: Talkeetna
Drive: about two hours from Anchorage, or take the train.
Arrive, walk to the riverfront, and look for Denali. On your full day, go to the viewpoints along the Parks Highway if it’s clear, or take a flightseeing trip around the mountain. Otherwise enjoy the town, the river and the ranger station, and get a good night’s sleep before the park.
Read more: a day in Talkeetna.
Nights 3 to 5: Denali
Drive: about two and a half hours north.
Three nights near the park entrance gives you two full days and one spare for weather.
- Day one: the entrance area. Visitor center, Junior Ranger books, Horseshoe Lake, the sled dog kennels, and Savage River.
- Day two: a bus into the park for wildlife and, with luck, the mountain.
- Day three: your choice. A rest morning, a rafting trip on the Nenana River for older kids, or a day out on the Denali Highway.
Read more: Denali with kids.
Nights 6 and 7: Fairbanks
Drive: about two hours north.
The museum, a riverboat on the Chena, Pioneer Park, and musk oxen. If you’re here from late August, stay out of town and watch for the northern lights.
Read more: Fairbanks with kids.
By train instead
The Alaska Railroad runs between Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks in summer. It’s slow, comfortable and gorgeous, and the kids can walk around. Without a car you’ll rely on shuttles and tours at each stop, so book those first. Check the train timetable before you settle your dates: the train doesn’t run every route every day.
Making it work with kids
- Unpack once per stop. Fewer, longer stays beat a new bed every night.
- Leave afternoons empty. The long summer light means you can do things at 8 pm. Use the afternoons to rest.
- Keep one day spare. Weather in Alaska changes plans. A spare day means you don’t lose the thing you came for.
Where to stay
Each of our stays is a base for one part of this plan: Spruce Loft in Talkeetna, Fireweed Cabin near Denali, and Aurora House outside Fairbanks. Ask about dates for one or all three.